 DHAKA - At least nine people died and about 500 were wounded in political riots in Bangladesh on Saturday after the man due to take over as interim leader withdrew just hours before taking the oath. Prime Minister Begum Khaleda ZiaÂ’s five-year mandate ended on Friday. Former Supreme Court chief justice K.M. Hasan was to have been sworn in as caretaker leader on Saturday, ahead of a national election due in January.
| "To hell with this! I'm outta here!" |
A presidential spokesman said during the night that Hasan was too ill to take the oath. Hasan had told the president he was unable to become caretaker leader, he added.
In a statement issued to the local media, Hasan said he had decided to withdraw because major political parties had failed to agree on his appointment. “I was prepared to serve on national interest, but the level of mistrust between the political parties has made my position untenable,” the statement said. “It is best I should stand aside rather than be a hurdle to the political process.”
| "And, I'm sick." Sounds like he's both sick and tired. |
The opposition, citing HasanÂ’s past association with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, had accused him of being biased in favour of the government and unsuitable to oversee the election. |